Watch AnnArbor.com's 'Flight of the Black Friday shopper'
Hundreds of shoppers flooded the aisles and check-out lines for Target's inaugural Thanksgiving day opening in the hours before Black Friday.
Law enforcement officers and line monitors on the scene helped make sure that no one was trampled amid the excitement. Target even had one employee whose sole job was to make sure that everyone got their shopping carts in an orderly fashion.
Executive team leader of human resources Laura Hammer said staff was ready.
"It's not really different from any other day of the year. We just have a whole lot more going on," she said.
In past years, Black Friday scenes from across the country have left some wondering if humans cared more about each other or 40-inch televisions.
At least at this Ann Arbor area store on Ann Arbor-Saline Road in Pittsfield Township, the crowd was large, excited and orderly.
Check out the video that shows a slightly different look at Black Friday. We couldn't help but speed up the pace a bit and put it to music.
Dan Brenner is a photography intern at AnnArbor.com. You can reach him at danielbrenner@annarbor.com.
Comments
Daniel Brenner
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 11:01 p.m.
Music: Egmont Overture Finale, written by Beethoven. Copyright by Kevin MacLeod
mady
Tue, Nov 27, 2012 : 7:57 p.m.
Thank you, Daniel! while I am not a fan of how commercialized Christmas has become--far from it---your video gave me a chuckle! I archived it so whenever my spirits need to be lifted I can watch it. Happy Holidays!!
mady
Mon, Nov 26, 2012 : 3:29 p.m.
Does anybody know which piece this is?
Foodie01
Sat, Nov 24, 2012 : 3:34 p.m.
That was hilarious and inspired. Nice work!
jrigglem
Sat, Nov 24, 2012 : 2:03 a.m.
I went out because I needed to get an outfit for my daughter for daycare on Monday. I also did not come to Ann Arbor. I went to Adrian. I figured Ann Arbor might be a bit more crazier. I hit Kohls, Meijer and Hobby Lobby..oh and Joann's (but they didn't have what I needed). Kohls had a line around the store waiting to check out because there is only one set of registers in Adrian as opposed to the two sets in Ann Arbor. Oh and I waited until around 1/1:30 pm before heading out. I loved the video it was funny to watch all the carts disappear.
Ann English
Sat, Nov 24, 2012 : 1:12 a.m.
I went to the Ann Arbor-Saline Road Target this morning, but it was the third place I went to, and the second store. I did not go there because of Black Friday at all, but to purchase an Up-and-Up brand item, and a cleaner because I had a Target store coupon for it. I didn't have trouble finding a parking place, but people were starting to line up and wait for mine and other spaces when I left.
Brandt Hardin
Sat, Nov 24, 2012 : 12:06 a.m.
Is nothing sacred? Last night and today proved the holidays have slipped away from the general public and been completely bastardized by Big Business. The traditional meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas both have been diluted by mass consumerism. Read more about the War on the Holidays and American Values being waged from the buildings of Wall Street at http://dregstudiosart.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-war-on-thanksgiving-one-turkeys.html where one Turkey gets his revenge for encroaching on Thanksgiving this year!
jns131
Fri, Nov 23, 2012 : 9:44 p.m.
Until Blue Law occurs? You won't see me doing this early morning craze. Sleep in and wait for Monday. Internet sales. Do the internet and spend time with family.
Honest Abe
Fri, Nov 23, 2012 : 9:09 p.m.
I Own a company, 12 rental properties and my own home are paid off with no mortgage, have no credit card debt, I sent 3 kids to college and paid for it in full with no loans, am able to donate 5 figures yearly, all my bills are current, and own nice things, my wife does not need to work anymore, we have 4 new vehicles ..etc. Want to know how I do it? One of the ways is I never went out and blew a ton of money on 'Black Friday' Shopping! I never swiped a credit card and went into debt to buy presents, instead I stuck with what I could afford. I have worked hard my whole life, and I tell you this, I did not do all that work just to throw my money away! I use to stash $20 bucks a week aside for Christmas. When the time came, I had plenty of money to buy gifts. Maybe not lavish gifts, but they were gifts that had thought and meaning into them. If you cannot afford to stash a few bucks aside, than either you're missing discipline or you cannot afford to set it aside in the first place. If you cannot afford gifts, it's not a big deal, even if you have kids. When you hang yourself up on the view that 'every kid should have a present to open', than you have lost the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is about celebrating Jesus Christ's Birthday, not buying gifts, let along buying gifts and being in debt. If you cannot afford to buy gifts, nobody is going to hold that against you. Xmas is not about GIFTS! This whole thing everyone calls 'Black Friday' is beyond ridiculous. I've heard of cases where fist fights have happened over a spot in line or a DEATH being caused by being trampled by a mob, so they can go buy a stereo that is $25 bucks less. 'Black Friday' is not about Christmas!! Black Friday is for people who have no concept of what Christmas and the other Holidays are suppose to be about. If you have your family and health, you already have been given multiple, big presents with a shiny bow on top.
arborarmy
Sun, Nov 25, 2012 : 3:18 a.m.
Nope. We understood his point exactly. He lives his life in a perfect way and anyone who does not live their life exactly as he does his, anyone whose values are any different than his, that person is, by definition, wrong. Our pointing this out makes you sick? You have a weak stomach if that's all it takes.
Commoncents
Sat, Nov 24, 2012 : 10:48 p.m.
The two comments above me make me sick. What is wrong with you guys ? You both completely missed the point.
mady
Sat, Nov 24, 2012 : 2:12 p.m.
What's it like to be perfect?
arborarmy
Sat, Nov 24, 2012 : 4:16 a.m.
Feeling morally superior today, are we?? I think your lord had something to say about that.
Napalm.Morning
Fri, Nov 23, 2012 : 8:44 p.m.
Beyond the "low hanging fruit" critiques about crass commercialism and the I'm somehow a better person because I stay home with my family. . .could it be that the heart of the Black Friday proceedings is actually about being part of an "Event", to somehow be part of something and to fill a void in our collective psyche, to simply be a part of something in lieu of the fear of being alone, with our thoughts, or isolated with our own limited personal connections and to construct our own entertainment Our media then magnifies, and in essence markets the event to the point where participation is the action. . .similar to how the professional american football Super Bowl has become a national day of fesitivities even to those whose interest in the game itself is nonexistent. Consider the power of the media to manufacture such hysterics and influence, and then in the next breath report those same activities as news. Pound your fist ad nauseum to regain economic perspective. . .I, for one, lament the loss of a self determinative humanity Sincerely (sigh), Not a Lab Rat (yet)
15crown00
Fri, Nov 23, 2012 : 8:38 p.m.
MADNESS just MADNESS
Elaine F. Owsley
Fri, Nov 23, 2012 : 8:18 p.m.
I don't shop when there's no one in the store. I sure wouldn't take part in this circus.